Sydney - Sydney guide, attractions and pictures

Sydney is a city of multicultural energy, charming beaches and harbors, delicious cuisine and multiple dining venues, busy nightlife, and lots of sun. Though on the Australian continent, Sydney is a remarkably international meeting place of cultures, tastes, and styles. In a nutshell, the city stands for cultural diversity, vitality, and hedonism.

The first settlement was founded at Circular Bay in 1788. The area was originally occupied by the Eora tribe whose art work may be viewed at many engraving sites around Sydney. The city was essentially in the hands of the military during the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. Between 1830 and 1840, the city experienced rapid urban development. The first suburbia grew and fresh waves of immigrants arrived from England and Ireland. By the beginning of the 20th century, the capital of South New Wales became the largest city in Australia. The continued inflow of immigrants contributed to the international and cosmopolitan atmosphere of Sydney.

The city features many cultural, architectural, and natural landmarks. The Sydney Opera House encompasses the Concert Hall and the Opera Theatre. The opera features the performances of the Australian Ballet, the Opera Australia, the Sydney Symphony, and the Sydney Theatre Company. Close to the Opera House is the steel Sydney Harbor Bridge. The arch structure, which connects the central business district with the North Shore, is the tallest steel arch bridge in the world. The Sydney Tower is the second tallest building in Australia. The structure is included in the list of the World Federation of Great Towers. The Rocks is another popular place among the tourists. The area contains many buildings of historical significance such as the first fortified position of the state, Dawes Point Battery, and the Sydney Observatory.

The National Maritime Museum at the Darling Harbor features the Australian navy, sea commerce, water sports and adventure, and many other collections. The museum displays some famous ships such as the Krait and James Craig. The oldest museum in Australia, the Australian Museum, displays collections in the fields of anthropology, mineralogy, paleontology, and zoology. In the central business district, the Queen Victoria Building is a 190 meters tall Romanesque Revival structure which functions as a shopping mall. Opposite to this building is the sandstone structure of the Sydney Town Hall. Designed in the Victorian Second Empire style, the building hosts the Sydney City Council, the Centennial Hall, and the offices of the Lord Mayor and the elected councilors of the city. The Strand Arcade is a Victorian-style shopping arcade which opened in 1892. At present, the shopping center houses designer’s boutiques.

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